Army of the Visegrad Group

20
Army of the Visegrad Group


In February 1991 of the year in the Hungarian city of Vyshegrad, representatives of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland signed a declaration of intent to create the Visegrad Group (V4). The goal of this joint project is to accelerate the integration of these states into European structures. Their efforts did not go unnoticed - in 2004, they all became members of the European Union.

But things are not so smooth between the members of the Visegrad Group. 22 of the year has already passed, but this union still has no management structure and all decisions are made only after mutual consultations.

At the suggestion of the Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski, which sounded in the spring of 2012, the countries of the Visegrad Group had to express their opinion in a united front when discussing the new EU budget. But the created front immediately cracked at the seams, when in distributing money the Czech Republic and Hungary received much less funding from the cohesion fund than Poland.

I must say that the Visegrad Four is divided into main points: Poland is trying to strengthen its participation in the European Union, Slovakia has become a member of the Eurozone, open Euroskepticism has established itself in the Czech Republic, Old Europe has practically isolated Hungary from itself. In this regard, the Hungarian leader Orban urged the countries of Eastern Europe to unite and conduct their policies, independent of Brussels. But this proposal does not suit Poland, which is counting on a direct dialogue with the leaders of Old Europe, for which it is ready to betray the interests of such “small fry” - the allies in the Visegrad group.

In addition, the second president of the Czech Republic, V. Klaus, believes that cooperation within this group further reinforces the backwardness of the entire region. Partners within the Visegrad Group are also very concerned about the dominance of Poland in the alliance of the Four. Hungary and Slovakia also have many unresolved problems at the government level of these countries.

In March, the 2013 of the year in Poland hosted the V4 group summit. The summit was attended by Czech Prime Minister P. Nechas, Hungarian Prime Minister V. Orban, Polish Prime Minister D. Tusk, and Slovak Prime Minister R. Fico. Chancellor of Germany A. Merkel and French President F. Hollande became honorary guests-participants. Later they were joined by Polish President B. Komorowski. The participation in the summit of representatives of the key powers of Europe served as the basis for uniting the Vischegrad Group with the Vemara Triangle Group (France, Poland, Germany). The leaders of France and Germany once again confirmed the primacy of Poland among the states of Central Europe. Also, the leaders of Germany and France made it clear to the members of the new union that they are full participants in the process of European economic integration. In turn, Polish politicians reminded their European partners that Europe should not remain closed to Eastern European countries when discussing any issues related to the future of the European Union. Moreover, as the Polish Prime Minister believes, the strengthening of the European Union should be carried out in three areas: monetary and economic union, improving the competitiveness of the economies of EU members, and strengthening defense capability. The countries of the V4 group believe that they cope better with the effects of the global economic crisis than many countries of Old Europe. For example, Hungary managed to achieve its own balanced budget, which served as the basis for improving the main economic indicators.

And although the summit addressed economic issues, the main goal was to discuss problems of defense policy and the formation of a common security strategy. The V4 summit can rightly be considered the preparatory stage for the European summit on security issues, which is scheduled to be held in December 2013 of the year in Warsaw. At the March summit they also discussed the general policy in the field of creating a unified industrial, technological and defense base. Merkel noted that the formation of a joint defense potential will bring all European countries to a new level of security. Hollande stressed that this issue requires further elaboration of the EU common defense policy strategy.

Note that the summit was preceded by a working meeting of defense ministers of the participating countries. At this meeting, a document of intent was created to create a common military group - a rapid reaction brigade. The proposal to establish such a military unit was made 2 a year ago, but now this idea has been translated into a concrete decision. It was decided that Poland would take over the formation of the headquarters and command. Also, the Polish side will introduce soldiers into the 1600 grouping, the Czech Republic - 800, Slovakia - 400, Hungary - 350. The Czech Republic will transfer military equipment to the formed general military group and provide logistics. Hungarian military engineers and Slovak specialists will work in the battle group, provided with the necessary equipment to carry out protection against weapons mass destruction. It is planned that the deployment time of the combat group will be no more than 15 days. It is planned to complete the final formation of the Visegrad Battle Group by the beginning of 2016.

The plan to create such a joint militant group is fully consistent with the regional policy and is inextricably linked with the course of NATO and the EU to implement the pan-European security system. It is only natural that the strengthening of cooperation between countries in the field of defense is happening right now. After all, each of the countries participating in the summit is interested in modernizing its armed forces, but none of them has sufficient financial resources to carry out these plans alone. Therefore, for countries such as Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, participation in the creation of European armed forces makes it possible to increase the combat readiness of their armies. The biggest defense spending in the V4 group is in Poland. The remaining members of this group relied more on the cooperation and support of the countries of the North Atlantic bloc in modernizing their armed forces. Members of the V4 group have repeatedly held talks and consultations on the purchase of new weapons and equipment, as well as cooperation in the field of defense complexes and improvements related to these plans, national legislation. The result of these efforts are only preliminary declarations of intent. The countries of the V4 group failed to implement a single joint research project. Neither the modernization nor the purchase of new weapons.

The confusion in the implementation of plans to strengthen the military-technical base of the armies of the V4 countries is confirmed by the current situation in the air forces of these states. Czech Republic and Hungary signed a lease agreement for the Swedish JAS-39 Gripen. Warsaw preferred the American F-16. The Slovaks retained their Soviet MiG-29. Now the Czechs have offered their allies in the group to buy a batch of modern fighters from the United States, but Prague has not yet responded to this initiative.

Poland spends about 1,9% of GDP on military spending, while its allies in the V4 group only 1,1% of GDP. As the analysis of the situation showed, not only the economic crisis caused a reduction in defense spending in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The reduction in the financing of military spending is related to the position of these countries, the essence of which is that the local governing and political elite do not see a threat to the security of their states.

Since Poland’s defense investments in 5 exceed the defense costs of the other countries of the Visegrad Group, it’s likely that the Polish leadership will aim at strengthening military cooperation with the Nordic countries and Germany. And these plans are much more real than seeking mutual understanding of the Visegrad partners. In this regard, it is unlikely that the implementation of joint defense projects planned at the March summit will be implemented in the near future.

Materials used:
http://www.rosbalt.ru/main/2013/03/07/1103211.html
http://regnum.ru/news/fd-abroad/polska/1633895.html
http://www.warandpeace.ru/ru/reports/view/77949/
Our news channels

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

20 comments
Information
Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
  1. +4
    28 March 2013 08: 17
    You look at the map before 1991, and you think what country it was in.
    Territory and power.
    Did not work out...
    1. DAEDALUS
      +4
      28 March 2013 20: 00
      You look at the map of the Russian Empire, I’m going to ditch what country it was in!
      1. 0
        30 March 2013 19: 53
        Especially on the maps of Tartaria (the European part of Tartaria is not printed, hidden), but then, after the luck of Peter 1, Moscow Tartaria was powerful ...
    2. DAEDALUS
      +1
      28 March 2013 20: 00
      You look at the map of the Russian Empire and think what country it was in!
    3. DAEDALUS
      +1
      28 March 2013 20: 00
      You look at the map of the Russian Empire and think what country it was in!
  2. +16
    28 March 2013 08: 21
    “Poland spends about 1,9% of GDP on military spending, while its V4 allies only 1,1% of GDP. Analysis of the situation showed that it was not only the economic crisis that caused a reduction in defense spending in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The decrease in funding for military spending is due to the position of these countries, the essence of which is that the local leadership and political elite do not see a threat to the security of their states. "

    The elite of these countries is not that they did not see threats at all, they just really understand that they cannot create anything really worthy against serious states, no matter how they puff up. For this, it will be necessary to spend not 1,1% of GDP, but 30%, and in addition half the country to put under arms. Therefore, they live by the principle: be that it will and don’t waste the money that is so necessary for the economy. Only Poland in paranoid ecstasy is all rushing with the idea of ​​great power, yapping at every roar of an oriental bear.
    1. bezumnyiPIT
      +4
      28 March 2013 08: 46
      yapping at every roar of an oriental bear.

      For the oriental bear respect and respect!
    2. +1
      28 March 2013 23: 14
      Quote: Vladimirets
      Only Poland in paranoid ecstasy is all rushing with the idea of ​​great power, yapping at every roar of an oriental bear.

      Oh! Well, let Poland feel like a Great State! laughing
      Moreover, maybe he secretly hopes to subdue all his "partners"! No wonder the army is arming the most!
  3. Nesvet Nezar
    +8
    28 March 2013 08: 26
    This group includes countries that do not have capital, natural resources and technology. These countries are inhabited by corrupt Russians. The vacillation of this part of Europe has been observed since the moment when the Catholic Church bought the gentry and they changed Orthodoxy to Catholicism. Since then, these territories have been living on the money of the West and in its service. The USSR and Russia are their enemy. This is obvious and explainable. We built factories for them and made them work. Accustomed to lie in the hayloft and guess at a camomile, they will remember us for a long time occupation. Even Brzezinski understands that Ukraine and Poland are part of Russia. And geopolitically, they cannot be a force even together. The attraction to Germany or Russia is inevitable.
    1. 0
      30 March 2013 19: 56
      catholic church

      Catholic Church

      F and T is the former letter FATA, which read like T and like F, what is the difference?

      the Vatican simply supported the "local aborigines" and the elite in the struggle for power.
  4. 0
    28 March 2013 09: 27
    Not a viable structure ... Exactly "swan, cancer and pike" ....
  5. 120352
    +7
    28 March 2013 09: 43
    I've been to Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic states, and Bulgaria. Beggars of the country! At least compared to us. Yes, the streets are cleaner because there are no Asians there, and everything else is no better than ours. By the way, one can speak Russian fluently and be understood there. Prices are lower than ours - this is true, because officials do not steal. But not gasoline. But look in what and how the "middle class" lives there! After we stopped supporting them, mass impoverishment began. Therefore, Russia is an enemy for them, since it no longer serves ...
    1. 0
      30 March 2013 19: 57
      you probably wanted to say, because the enemy that has ceased to give a freebie?
  6. +1
    28 March 2013 10: 09
    Yes, there is all the same order and bureaucrats do not steal like we are only thieves in bulk
    1. opkozak
      +4
      28 March 2013 14: 29
      Polish billionaire Alexander Gudzovaty (by the way, an ethnic Ukrainian) died recently. So, in the last interview, he said: "... over the past five years I have paid 680 million euros in taxes. If I worked in Russia, I would have five times more money." (He made his fortune trading with Gazprom in the early 1990s).
      1. 0
        30 March 2013 19: 59
        I'm sorry, but is there any scientifically based: ethnic Ukrainians?

        who is it and how do they have dna there?
    2. 0
      28 March 2013 19: 59
      Quote: bubla5
      Yes, there is all the same order and bureaucrats do not steal like we are only thieves in bulk

      No need to think about Russian officials so bad ... winked
      Less news needs to be watched and listened to by the zombie creator ... wassat
      In the West: Ordnung Uber Alles!
      The small bureaucrats are trembling for their place and are slowly writing out bonus equal to their annual salary, and those who are above are sitting just like everywhere else and do not forget about their pocket .., only everything is done much more more democratic laughing and all this against the backdrop of the crisis, unemployment, tax increases ... wink
    3. 0
      28 March 2013 19: 59
      Quote: bubla5
      Yes, there is all the same order and bureaucrats do not steal like we are only thieves in bulk

      No need to think about Russian officials so bad ... winked
      Less news needs to be watched and listened to by the zombie creator ... wassat
      In the West: Ordnung Uber Alles!
      The small bureaucrats are trembling for their place and are slowly writing out bonus equal to their annual salary, and those who are above are sitting just like everywhere else and do not forget about their pocket .., only everything is done much more more democratic and all this against the backdrop of the crisis, unemployment, tax increases ... wink
  7. malikszh
    +2
    28 March 2013 13: 05
    Quote: Miles
    You look at the map before 1991, and you think what country it was in.
    Territory and power.
    Did not work out...

    and you look at the map of the Russian Empires! Territory and power!
  8. malikszh
    0
    28 March 2013 13: 07
    Quote: Miles
    You look at the map before 1991, and you think what country it was in.
    Territory and power.
    Did not work out...

    and you look at the map of the Russian Empire! Territory and power!
  9. Evgeniy8104
    +2
    28 March 2013 20: 37
    My Motherland Red to face
    1. 0
      30 March 2013 20: 01
      always in Russia was red in fashion, for it is Light, Fire, the Sun, as Fomenko and others say (the church does not refute them) - the Romans and Spartans did not exist, the Etruscans and other about Russian tribes were everywhere ...
  10. Kubanets
    +1
    28 March 2013 23: 07
    All this has already been seen from the history of the last century. Reminds Lord Curzon's sanitary cordon. And the borders are the same and the participants are almost all on the face. But all this sovereign initiative was ended by protectorates and governor generals. History doesn’t teach some who have joined.
  11. 0
    31 March 2013 09: 35
    Visegrad group - the next mouse dances of the Limitrophs. While the cat is sleeping)))
  12. RUR
    RUR
    0
    21 July 2013 02: 03
    Quote: 120352
    I visited Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic states, and Bulgaria. Beggars of the country! At least compared to us. Yes, the streets are cleaner because there are no Asians there, and everything else is no better than ours
    Gjkmif

    According to the classification of international organizations (IMF, UN UNESCO), Poland and the Czech Republic are considered developed countries, and Russia is developing (the third world - those RUSSIA third grade - BY COMMENTS UNDERSTANDING AND VISIBLE). The GDP there is higher per capita than in Russia. Who doubts google to help.

    "Yes, the streets are cleaner because there are no Asians" - it is true that there are not so many Russians in Europe

"Right Sector" (banned in Russia), "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) (banned in Russia), ISIS (banned in Russia), "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" formerly "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in Russia) , Taliban (banned in Russia), Al-Qaeda (banned in Russia), Anti-Corruption Foundation (banned in Russia), Navalny Headquarters (banned in Russia), Facebook (banned in Russia), Instagram (banned in Russia), Meta (banned in Russia), Misanthropic Division (banned in Russia), Azov (banned in Russia), Muslim Brotherhood (banned in Russia), Aum Shinrikyo (banned in Russia), AUE (banned in Russia), UNA-UNSO (banned in Russia), Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia), Legion “Freedom of Russia” (armed formation, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation and banned)

“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"